MCDONALD'S has confirmed an interest in the historic Tumbledown Dick pub,
More than 1,700 people have joined the social media campaign to save the Tumbledown Dick pub, in Farnborough Road, since it launched on Friday October 19.
However, just days after the campaign launched, it came to light that the pub, affectionately known as the ‘Tumbly’, may have been sold to the international fast food Bride Hall Investments.
Members of the Save the Tumbledown Dick Pub & Live Music Venue campaign recently purchased the freehold document from the Land Registry, which appears to show a sale between Bride Hall Investments and McDonald’s Restaurants for the pub, dated August 7.
A spokesman for McDonald’s confirmed: “We have been reviewing options for a potential new restaurant in the Farnborough area and have expressed interest in the site of the former Tumbledown Dick pub. These proposals remain at an early stage and we will be launching a thorough consultation process to seek the views of residents, councillors and other community groups.”
Fran Beauchamp, founder of the Save the Tumbledown social media campaign, said: “We are deeply concerned as a community that ultimately this will result in the loss of this historic and much loved building.
“The pub could have been put to very good community use, instead of another fast food retail outlet in the area – there is a McDonald’s restaurant within a mile of this site.”
The landmark Tumbledown Dick, which is believed to have been around since the 1600s, has previously hosted bands like Reuben, Hundred Reasons and The Jam. The pub has been empty since 2008, after it failed a health inspection. An initial campaign to salvage the Tumbledown took place shortly afterwards, but petered out.
However, the rejuvenated campaign has inspired people in Farnborough, many of whom have expressed their outrage at the prospect of McDonald’s moving in.
“It is an insult to the town,” said Tudor Murray-Evans, of Farnborough. “The Tumbly has been there for hundreds of years. The last thing we need is another fast food restaurant.”
Fellow Farnborough resident Terry O’Connor added: “It is a terrible idea. From a history point of view, there is no respect for the elderly – the building has been around longer than McDonald’s.”
The first documentary evidence of the Tumbledown Dick appears in a letter dated July 30 1722, from Thomas Matthew, of Cove. The earliest known tenant was William Prior, in 1817. It was owned by the Lord of the Manor of Farnborough in the 1820s.
Andrew Lloyd, chief executive of Rushmoor Borough Council, said there is a popular misconception that the Tumbledown Dick is a listed building but this has never been the case. However, he revealed an independent assessment will be carried out this week, to provide clarity on whether the pub could qualify for listed building status.
Aldershot and Farnborough MP Sir Gerald Howarth has given the pub his backing, and has written to Bride Hall Investments. The McDonald’s spokesman added a new restaurant would provide 65 jobs.
Bride Hall Investments were unavailable to comment. Neither Bride Hall or McDonald’s were able to confirm who actually owns the pub at this stage.
A musical protest will be held this weekend. The ‘Drum Circle’ action is set to take place outside the pub, on Saturday, with momentum building in the drive to save the Farnborough Road venue.
The drum protest will start at 12pm, on November 3. Police have been informed about the protest for safety reasons.
